Splash-proof vibratory apparatus

ABSTRACT

A vibratory container, primarily for use in an electrolytic process, capable of operating with high electrolyte levels and of being loaded or emptied of workpieces with the unit in motion without splash-out of the electrolyte wherein at least one flexible closure member, closes off any avenues of splash-out from the unit.

United States Patent 1 259/72 259/DIG. 44

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211 Appl. No.: 279,674

Primary ExaminerR0bert W. Jenkins Att0meyHugh E. Smith et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A vibratory container, primarily for use in an electro- [52] US. Cl...... 259/72, 259/DlG. 41, 259/DIG. 44, 220/24 R, 220/29 B01f 11/02 259/72, DIG. 42,

51 [58] Field of lytic process, capable of operating with high electro- 259 44 mg 41 D16 25 mg 2 1 lyte levels and of being loaded or emptied of work- R 116 125; 220/24 R 29 pieces with the unit in motion without splash-out of the electrolyte wherein at least one flexible closure member, closes off any avenues of splash-out from the unit.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,376,221 259/DIG. 42 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SPLASH-PROOF VIBRATORY APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The recently-developed N-E-T Process utilizes a plurality of small, hard particles moving over the surface of a cathode throughout the electrodeposition reaction and thus provides a mechanical activation to the surface of the electrodeposit forming on such cathode which produces a drastic acceleration in the rate at which sound metal can be deposited upon such surface. While one version of this process utilizes the small, hard particles in supported status on a carrier web (U.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,619,384 to Steve Eisner, issued Nov. 9, 1971), the present invention relates to improved equipment for carrying out another version of the process described and claimed in the copending application Ser. No. 102,287 of Steve Eisner, filed Dec. 29, 1970 and entitled Vibratory Process wherein a plurality of loose particles are disposed within a vibratory unit as described and claimed in the copending application of Steve Eisner, Ser. No. 271,527, entitled Vibratory Apparatus and filed on July 13, 1972. While primarily designed for the aforesaid version of the process wherein a high level of electrolyte is maintained in the system, it also may be used with the process version disclosed and claimed in the copending application of N. E. Wisdom, Ser. No. 140,143, entitled High Throw Power Electrodeposition Process and filed on May 4, 1971, or in any other electrolytic process employing a vibratory unit and relatively high amounts of electrolyte which splash when the unit is in operation. It also could be used in non-electrolytic processes employing vibratory units and corrosive liquids.

PRIOR ART So far as Applicant is aware, the central problem posed by the above-identified process and solved by the equipment of the present invention is unique and hence no specific art in this area exists. The closest art is expected to exist in the vibratory abrasion field, e.g. U.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,523,834 to T. F. Hewins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention consists of modifying equipment, originally designed for vibratory abrasion or finishing of parts, generally incorporated in loose form in a mass of abrasive polishing media, to adapt the same to an electrolytic process wherein a high level of electrolyte is maintained within the container of the vibratory equipment.

In general, this type of equipment tends to provide a more mild form of abrasion than does the earlier tumbling barrels previously used for the same purposes. In a tumbling barrel, only the cascading layer at the surface of the rotating mass of media and loose parts provides relative motion between such parts and the abrasive media. In the vibratory unit, each particle and part is in constant motion during the period of imposed vibration. Whereas in barrel finishing, the primary force moving the media is gravity and in the vibratory type finishing, such force is that transmitted from the walls of the vibratory unit to the particles and thence particle to particle, different considerations apply. Generally speaking, for the purposes of abrading or finishing, i.e., stock removal, for which all such vibratory finishing equipment was designed prior to the aforesaid development of the N-E-T Process for electrodeposition, larger size media were used in the equipment since the smaller the media, the more the vibratory force was damped out. Likewise, no liquid or very low liquid levels (cleaners, degreasers, etc.) were generally used since high liquid level would still further damp out the vibratory forces. The N-E-T Process, particularly the N-E-T II version (as the process described and claimed in the aforesaid application, Ser. No. 102,287, shall hereinafter be referred to for purposes of convenience) on the contrary, utilizes a very high liquid level in the vibratory container. As expected, this does, in combination with the small particle sizes used in N-E-T ll (generally under 1/4 inch average diameter) damp the vibratory action to the point where essentially no abrasion takes place, e.g., a soft brass plate ground to a 40 microinch finish was run in a N-E-T II plating system without any current applied and after 5 minutes, no measurable change in surface finish had been effected. The important electrolyte level in N-E-T II is that at which the liquid is just above all surfaces on which the electrodeposit is to be formed. Excess electrolyte (above such minimum level) can be used if desired and such is usually the case in order to provide for recirculation, cooling, heating, filtering orother treatments while the process is in operation. Because the critical plating area or electrodeposition zone in the N-E'T II Process is below the level both of the electrolyte and of the mass of particles, the parts to be plated must be inserted into the plating zone. Since the particle mass is very dense and the particles are of greater specific gravity than the electrolyte, this zone can realistically be considered a mass of particles with electrolyte distributed through the interstices thereof rather than as a suspension of particles in a liquid. Attempting to insert a part into this zone with the unit not vibrating resembles inserting an object into a wet gravel bank. It can be done but is obviously impractical for commercial usage. With the unit vibrating, the mass of particles has a macroflow which tends to cause the parts or racks supporting the parts to enter the mass easily and essentially without the need of any extemally-applied force. This, of course, is the type of part insertion known in theuse of this equipment for abrasive finishing.

However, here the liquid level is high whereas the contrary is true where abrasive finishing is the object. Also, in electrodeposition, the electrolyte is frequently acidic or alkaline in nature and is not the type of liquid which should be lightly considered relative to contact with the skin or eyes of an operator. With this high liquid level, a severe splash problem is created when vibration is imposed upon the unit. In consequence, much of the early experimental process work was carried out by inserting the parts with the unit at rest.

The present invention provides a means which permits insertion or removal of the parts from a vibratory unit containing electrolyte and particles without danger to the operator from electrolyte splash. A further object of the invention which is achieved as a beneficial side-effect is to minimize drag-out of electrolyte and- /or activating particles on parts being removed from the unit.

According to the present invention, a plurality of flexible closure members are used to cover the open top of the vibratory unit. Preferably, each closure member consists of a plurality of flexible, elongate, electrolyte-resistant fibrous elements closely spaced in a horizontal plane and generally comprising a layer of at least 1/4 inch in depth. The most convenient disposition of such fibrous elements is in the form of brushes as illustrated in the drawings hereinafter described. However, alternate disposition such as stretching the filaments across and anchoring each end can be used provided a rack can be easily forced down through the layer in such instance displacing the filaments to the side rather than in a vertical direction as with the preferred brush construction. Preferably, at least two flexible closure members, vertically displaced one from the other, are used as shown in the drawings. In some instances, particularly where high side walls are used on the splash baffle (described in connection with the drawings) one flexible closure member will suffice particularly if the layer of fibrous elements is thicker, e.g., 2 to 3 inches or more. The vertical spacing between the closure members in the preferred arrangement should be at least several inches and, preferably, will range between about 4 and 24 inches although greater spacing can be utilized if desired. This forms what can be considered a liquid-lock, i.e., a zone wherein the lower closure normally stops substantially all splash while the rack or part to be inserted into the vibratory unit passes through the upper closure. As the part continues down and penetrates the lower closure member, the fibrous elements of the upper and loweclosure tend to close around the rack minimizing any free opening through which splashed electrolyte can escape from the unit. As the part is removed, the closures operate in reversed fashion to minimize such escape and also by virtue of wiping or dragging over the surface of the rack and associated parts tend to wipe off electrolyte or entrapped particles causing these to fall back into the vibratory plating tank. While the rack is in the tank, the fibrous elements close in around the rack support affording little if any opportunity for splashing electrolyte to escape. The closures must be preferably free of any imposed vibration from the unit itself in order that liquid caught on the fibrous elements not be thrown about through motion of the closures. Hence, the closures are mounted independent of the vibratory walls of the unit.

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration in cross-sectional end view of a vibratory apparatus embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing a plating rack being inserted into the unit.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown in cross section a vibratory plating apparatus of the general type disclosed and claimed in the aforesaid copending application, Ser. No. 271,527. The vibratory container 11 having a rounded cross section is charged with a dense mass of small, hard activating particles 12 and a supply of liquid electrolyte l3. Container 11 is vibrated through the action of shafts 14 (e.g., Rampe Manufacturing Company equipment) isolated by shock absorbers 15 from the supporting base member 16. Vertically disposed from and firmly affixed to the non-vibrating base member 16 is a support member 17 having at its upper end a cantilevered, horizontally extending portion 18. Support member 17 may be welded or bolted to base member 16 as desired. The upper portion 18 may be an extension of member 17 or a separate welded or bolted arm. Depending from the horizontally-extending, non-vibrating arm 18 is an imperforate splash baffle and containing member 19 which essentially is a hollow, box-like member having two vertical sides and two vertical ends but no top or bottom. Bafile member 19 is fastened to arm 18 as shown at 20, preferably by bolting so as to provide for ease of removal and/or replacement. Two support members 17 with arms 18 are used in this unit as shown in FIG. 3. The lower end of bafile member 19 extends down into the opening in the top of vibratory container 11 and is provided with means 21 to isolate such lower end of member 19 from contact with and hence imposed vibration from container 11. As illustrated, such isolation means is a shock-absorbing foam wedge 21 adhered to the sides of baffle member 19 and so arranged as to close off any opening existing between such sides and the sides of the opening on the top of container 11. This also prevents any liquid splash from escaping around the sides of baffle member 19. This feature is optional since, obviously, a permanent splash deflector can be provided along the edges of the top opening of container 11 below the point where the bottom of baffle member 19 terminates as an integral part of container 11. Likewise, with the provision of such splash shield or equivalent, sides of member 19 can be so positioned as to be safely out of contact with the walls of container 11 eliminating the need for the vibration isolation at the lower end of such baffle member 19. Positioned in spaced relationship within baffle member 19 and spaced vertically one from the other are upper closure members 22 and lower closure members 23. As illustrated in this version of the apparatus, such closure members each consist of a pair of brushes made up of flexible, electrolyte-resistant fibers 24 extending so as to form a thick horizontal layer from base 25, each set of brushes being positioned with their base 25 anchored to opposite sides of baffle member 19 and the ends of the fibers 24 of each brush contacting, overlapping and interlacing to effectively form a continuous closure across the opening in the hollow baffle member 19. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the unit 10 is in operation, i.e., is vibrating, although no electrodes have been inserted. The electrolyte 13 is shown as splashing droplets 26 of electrolyte upward against the lower closure member 23 which effectively stops all but a very few which in turn are prevented from escape from the unit by upper closure member 22.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged close-up view of the upper end of the unit 10 of FIG. 1 showing the insertion into tank 11 of an electrode rack 30 carrying a part to be plated 36 and nonconforming anodes 32. As the rack 30 penetrates down towards tank 11, it first enters the splash baffle and containing member 19 described above in connection with FIG. 1. As illustrated, the rack 30 has passed far enough down through baffle member 19 to have penetrated the upper closure member 22. The filaments 24 of the brushes forming closure member 22 have been deflected downward, opening to permit passage of rack 30 and are shown as having closed behind the rack to closely engage the insulated supporting shaft 31 of rack 30 as it continues to move rack 30 downwards in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2. The actual rack construction forms as part of the present invention and may vary widely as desired. The illustrated configuration shows the rack 30 made anodic by lead 34 clamped at 35 to rack 30 which in turn has fastened thereto by bolts 3333', nonconforming consumable anodes 32-32. Extending down the center of the rack-supporting shaft 31 and insulated thereby from contact with rack 30 is the cathode contactor 37. Affixed to the threaded lower end of such contactor 37 is the cathodic workpiece 36 positioned between the two anodes 32-32. Lower closure member 23 remains as a barrier to the splashing electrolyte 26 (the unit being here shown in vibration). The electrolyte on closure member 23 drips back down into tank 11 since baffle member 19 from which the brushes making up closure member 23 extend is isolated from contact with the walls of the vibrating tank 11 and hence the brushes do not throw the electrolyte as they would if they also vibrated. This view also more clearly shows how the vibration isolators 21 close off any splash around the outside walls of baffle member 19. FIG. 3 is a top view of unit 10 of FIG. 1 showing how the baffle member 19 and its associated vibration insulators 21 close off the entire open top of the unit. Upper and contacting member 22 is seen as providing through the overlapping andcontacting filaments 24 extending from bases 25, an essentially complete closure of the central hollow portion of baffle member 19. As shown here, a pair of support members 17 with associated arms 18 are used to support baffle member 19 from the non-vibrating base 16 of unit 10.

Obviously, many variations of the closure system illustrated herein may be used, the requirements being that the system consist of at least one liquid-resistant (chemically) vibration-isolated flexible closure member, capable of opening to permit passage of irregularshaped objects such as the illustrated rack and closing behind it to minimize to the best degree possible any openings around or adjacent to such supporting members as may extend down through the closure, e.g., rack-supporting shaft 31. With this equipment, parts may be inserted into the N-E-T II mass of particles and electrolyte with the unit in motion and hence require little, if any, applied force to sink within such mass to the necessary point where the part to be plated is completely covered by the particle mass. As pointed out above, the closure members also improve drag-out control by acting as wipers as the rack is removed from the unit. While described primarily in connection with an electrodeposition process, it can be utilized in any other process wherein high liquid levels are provided in vibratory equipment and splash-out of such liquid presents a problem.

I claim:

1. Vibratory apparatus comprising:

a. A vibrating container which produces liquid splashing with a high level of liquid therein, said container having an opening in the upper surface thereof;

b. Splash baffling and containing means surrounding all sides of said opening and providing only an upwardly-extending opening through which any of said liquid splashed by the vibrations of said container can pass; and

At least one flexible, non-vibrating, closure member within and closing said upwardly extending opening within said splash baffling and containing means against passage of any of said splashed liquid.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said flexible closure member comprises a plurality of flexible, elongate elements.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said flexible elongate elements are fibrous in nature and chemically resistant to said liquid.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said closure member comprises sets of brushes.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said brushes are affixed to and extend from said splash baffling and containing means.

6. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein at least two flexible closure members are used, one being vertically displaced within said splash bafiling and containing means with respect to the other. 

1. Vibratory apparatus comprising: a. A vibrating container which produces liquid splashing with a high level of liquid therein, said container having an opening in the upper surface thereof; b. Splash baffling and containing means surrounding all sides of said opening and providing only an upwardly-extending opening through which any of said liquid splashed by the vibrations of said container can pass; and c. At least one flexible, non-vibrating, closure member within and closing said upwardly extending opening within said splash baffling and containing means against passage of any of said splashed liquid.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said flexible closure member comprises a plurality of flexible, elongate elements.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said flexible elongate elements are fibrous in nature and chemically resistant to said liquid.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said closure member comprises sets of brushes.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said brushes are affixed to and extend from said splash baffling and containing means.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein at least two flexible closure members are used, one being vertically displaced within said splash baffling and containing means with respect to the other. 